Driving mechanism for washing machines



D331, 1931. MELSQN 1,334,133

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Feb. 6. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheetl o 33 v FIE-1 Arrunmsavs J- NELSON DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHINGMACHINES Dec. 1, 1931 Filed Feb. 6, 1926 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E v N n D TT A v. E 7 a M 994- 4 I 8 W a 4 4 WWW 4 rumbm side of the washingmachine cover and bein dolly,

Patented Dec. 1, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOHN NELSON, OFNEWTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR 'IO AUTOMATIC WASHER COMPANY, OF

NEWNN, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE DRIY'IN G MECHANISM FOR WASHINGMACHINES Application filed February 6, 1926. Serial No. 86,382.

This invention relates to driving mechanism for washing machines. I

One of the objects of the invention is to provide driving mechanism forwashing machines permitting the movement of the dolly without thepositioning of the driving means therefor upon the upper side of thelid.

Another object is 1n the provision of driving means for a dolly type ofwashing machine, said driving means and clutching mechanism thereforbeing mounted entirely beneath the lid and top of the washer.

Still another object is the provision of a dolly type of washin machine,wherein the driving mechanism t erefor is of the rack and gear type,said mechanism being fashioned in a manner to permit mounting thereofbeneath the top of the washer, and still permitting o tional raising andlowering of the lid to acilitate entry and removal of materials to bewashed.

A further object lies in the provision of a particularly fashionedspring tensioned rack, the same being mounted upon the under adapted toengage the driving gears for the dolly, the same being attached to a lidmember ca able of being raised or lowered as desire A still furtherobject is to provide driving means for a dolly type of washing machine,said driving means including a spring tensioned rack member fashionedfor relative engagement with gear mechanism for the the same beingpositioned upon the pivoted lid portion.

Other objects will appear in the followin specification taken inconnection with the annexed drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a frontelevation, partially in section, showing in general the mounting of thedriving mechanism herein in connection with the dolly;

Fig. 2 is a plan view, from above, portions thereof being shown insection, of the driving mechanism for the dolly;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 0 Fig. 2;

in Fig. 1 a general view of the driving mechanism in connection with thedolly, wherein it may be observed that the cover and lid portion of thewashing machine tub carries none of the driving elements which are socommon to the conventional type of washer.

Referring more particularly to the mechanism, there is shown at 10 thewell known tub portion. This tub 10 is suitably attached to a steel base11, to which is secured a supporting frame 12, carrying the power means,namely, the electric motor 13. The four legs 14 support the tub andframe in the conventional manner. The supporting frame 12 similarlyprovides the means for locating in a fixed manner thereon a gear casing15, said gear casing extending upwardly't-herefrom to provide a housing16 for the main drive shaft 17. Power is transmitted to the main driveshaft 17 through a belt connection 18, belt g wheel 19, worm 20 and wormgear 21.

Upon the edges-of the tub 10 is placed a cast aluminum cover 22, whichis shown perhaps most clearly in Fig. 3 of the drawings. This cover israised, as shown in Fig. 1;, above the upper end of the main drive shaft17, and as has been stated before, covers the driving mechanism for thedoll which in the present instance is located eneath the cover and lidin an unexposed position, and with the novel result of having a dollytype of washer with a cover portion therefor that g has none of thedriving elements thereabove.

Attached to the upper end of the drive shaft 17 is a crank '23, with apin 24 thereon having pivotal engagement with a pitman 25, the samehaving pivotal connection 26 with a raised pin 27 on a rack 28.

Before describing in detail the remaining driving mechanism, it might bestated that a second crank 29 provides the driving means for the wringermechanism through the following portions: The wringer drive shaft 30 iskeyed, as at 31, within the crank 29, which is supported in a bearing 32positioned in tho housing 33 for the wringer drive mechanism.

This

, 34,'the same providing the driving means for L gages a conformin' apower roll 35 of a wringer design shown at 36, .Returning inlgmechanism, and specifically to the rack w ich was designated as 28, wefind that this rack is carried'in a frame 37, there being pro vided insaid frame a guideway 38', which en- 'groove upon the under side of therack. cover member 39 holds the rack in place in vtheframe 3,7. The pin27 moves in a slot in the covermember 39.

Referring est showin of the frame '37, we find such frame for t e rackpivoted at 40 to the cover 22. The opposite end of the frame 37 has apivotal connection 41 with an arm 42, said arm having a spring tensionedconnection 43' with a crank member 44, adaptedto be manually 0 rated byaconventional handle 45 pivotal V ment of which is'limited by the stops46 and 47. The spring tensioned connection referred to 5 ofthe drawings,compression sprin slidably related cy result that a. tensionedrelationing between the crankarm and respective of the osition of theframe, the same bein contro ed obviously by the movement of the, handle45to either of the positions designated by the stops 46 and 47 In Fig. 4of the drawings, there is shown an enlarged detail of means for holdingthe frame 37 to a shelf 51 cast integrally with '48 is contained withinthe aluminum cover. -The'nieans above referred to includes the screw 51athreaded into the guideway 38 and having a tensioned frictionalconnection through the spring 52 pressing on the washer 52a whichengages the shelf 51. It is apparent from this view that lateralmovementof the/frame may be effected through an aperture 53 thereinprovided for the purpose. The movement of the frame referred v by means,ofthe handle member, and said movement of the frame which carries therack likewise causes movement of said rack to and from the. at drivemechanism 'for the dolly later to described.

Another tensioning means for the rack, and morefparticularly,theframethereof, is provided'by the coil spring 54, suitably 10 cated in aprojection 55 cast integrally with the cover22. I i

Referring now to Fig. 2, for perhaps'the clearest disclosure of the geardrive for the dolly, we find an intermediate gear 56 pivoted rotatablyin the bearing 57 secured in the lid 58. This intermediate gear isadapted to mesh with the before mentioned rack, said.

a -s sawthat: conventional gearing referred to generally as ofconvent-ional-.

to the description of the'driv-- sarily be screwed thereon,

to Fig.2'for perhaps the clearnated at 67, the same y mounted inthecover'22, the move-' therewith. "Obviously, the lid 58 has' two"generally-as 43 is shown in detail in Fig, wherein we find that a 'nders49 and 50 with the the frame is provided irto above "is obviouslyaccomplished space below it gear the-pinion 59,-iwhich in turn hasmounted thereinthe shaft 60, the same providing the final connectingdrive means (for m son-yer. I 7

To facilitate location of the intermediate gear 56 in the same plane asthe rack bar, the lid is cast in such manner that a supplementalcover'or. lid portion 62must necesin order that the ripper side of thelid ma be fiat,

1g. 1. The-lid 5 8, as s own. in Fig. 3, does not com rise the entiretop of the washer, the tub ing artly covered by'the overlyin edges 0 t ecover 22.

T e lid 58 is pivoted to the cover 22 in the followin manner, the samebeing shown in detailin ig. 2. A hearing cap 63 is'secured to the cover22, the same 64 threaded therein. j The journal of the lid hinge bearingis at 66. The actual hinge for the lid is desigbeing cast integrallyhinges,'but in view of their similarit only one has been described. Theother hinge is gear56 b spacing the rack from the gear.'

In view 0 the fact that the lid must be raised and lowered, there mustbe some means to prevent movement of the rack to such a position as tocause unnatural en agement of the rack with the gear in case t e lidshould be .raised or lowered while the rack is in motion.

A knob or fastener 69 insures locking of the lid member 58 with thecover 22. A supplemental lid portion has been described as 62, but as amatter of fact, this ortion is actually a part of the lid 58, and t ereis a second supplemental lid 70, which is pivoted at 71 to the lid 58 aswellv as an opposed point, not shown, said supplemental lid providing acovering for the rack and adjacent rtion of the intermediate gear whichmay t: raised, as desired, forthe purpose of viewing the drivingmechanism. The pivot 71 is located at leastas high as the hinge 67 andthe lid 70 extends upwardlyifrom the pivot a slight distance, as showninFig. 3, soas to leave a for the hinge. When the lid 58 is in a loweredposition, this supplemental lid 70 lies in the same plane as the lid andconforms to the entire top of the washingmachine, as shown in Fig. 1.

With respect to the operation of the washing machine and the includeddriving mechanismfor the dolly, we find that the pltman 25, driven bythemaindrive shaft 17, actuates the rack 28, in 'areciprocatory manner,with as shown in shownat and the lock nut 1 having a set. screw theresult that the intermediate gear 56 is rotated, as well as the pinion59, which supports the dolly shaft 60. Means for unclutching the rackfrom the intermediate gear is provided in the above described frameortion 37 and crank 0 erated handle mem- Eer 47, which moves th quentlythe rack, into and out of engagement with said gear. A spring tensionedrelationship between the rack and intermediate gear to permit a quietlyrunning driving mechanism isprovided by the use of the coil spring 54,which applies, at all times, a tension upon the frame portion in a'manner to normally;

hold-the frame and rack in engagement wit the intermediate gear, andalso the compression spring mounting between the frame por-, tion 37 andthe lever mechanism for moving same away from, as well as towards, thegear. This spring tensioned relationing of the rack and frame withrespect to the intermediate gear prevents any possibility of breakage ofthe gear teeth when thrown into or out of mesh, without previouslymanually disenga ing the rack from said gear.

further means for insuring proper meshing of the adjacent'teeth upon therack and gear, even though there is a failure to unclutch the rack fromthe gear prior to the raising of the lid which carries the gear, isprovided by bevelling the teeth,'both on the rack, as shown at 72, andon the intermediate gear, as shown at 73.

Normally, the operation with respect to the stopping of the dolly wouldbe effected by manual operation of thehandle 47 to disengage the rackfrom the intermediate gear.

This unclutching action would be followed by the raising of the lid 58to permit withdrawal of the materials washed, prior to the wringingaction.

It is repeated that the spring tensioned fashioning of the rack, and thebevelling of adjacent gear teeth both on the rack and the intermediategear, prevents any possible breakage, due to the raising or lowering ofthe lid portion while the rack is in engagement with the intermediategear.

It is further apparent from inspection of Fig. 1, that no parts of thedrivin mechanism are disposedupon the top of t e washing machine, as inthe well known dolly washer, and that an improved dolly machine isprovided, which has a perfectly fiat upper surface and an entirelyenclosed driving mechanism, not only simple in construction, buttproviding a greatly increased degree of sa ety.

What I claim is:

1. A driving mechanism for a washing machine agitator comprising a gear,a rack bar for imparting alternating rotary movement to said gear, aspring tensioned movable supporting frame for the rack bar, and manuallyoperable means adapted to move e frame and conse-T,

said frame and rack into and out of engagement with said gear.

2. A driving mechanism for a washing machine agitator, comprising agear, a rack bar for imparting motlon to said gear, a pivoted frame forthe rackbar, a spring normally holding said frame and rack in engagementwith said gear, a lever member connected with the frame and ada ted tomove said frame and rack into an out of engagement with the gear, and as ring tensioned connection between said rame and lever. 3. A drivingmechanism for a washin machine agitator comprising a gear, a me bar forimparting motion to said gear, a supporting frame for the rack barcomprising a guide thereon for the rack bar, a lever member adapted tocontrol the movement of the rack bar to and from the gear, and resilientmeans for pressing the rack bar into engagement with the gear.

4. In a washing machine having a tub, a

cover, a pivoted lid on said cover and an agitator in said tubJ/drivingmechanism for said agitator, comprising a reciprocating rack bardisposed beneath the cover, a pivoted frame for supporting said rackbar, a gear for actuating said agitator mounted upon the lower side ofthe pivoted lid, lever mechanism for controlling the movement of theframe and rack into and out of engagement with said gear, and a springtensioned mounting for said frame.

5. In a washing machine having a tub, a cover, a pivoted lid on saidcover and an agitator in said tub, driving mechanism for said agitator,comprising a reciprocating rack disposed beneath the cover, a gearmounted on the lower side of the pivoted lid for imparting motion to theagitator, and means for insuring proper meshing of the rack and gearupon movement of the piv- 6. In a washing machine having a tub,-a I

cover, apivoted lid on said cover and an agitator in said tub, drivingmechanism for said agitator, comprising a reciprocating rack bardisposed beneath the cover, a gear mounted beneaththe'pivoted lid andadapted to engage the reciprocating rack bar a spring tensioned mountingfor the rack ar and a lever controlling the movement of the rack intoand out of engagement with said ear. 7. In a washing machine having atub, a cover, a pivoted lid on said cover and an agitator in said tub,driving mechanism for said agitator, comprising a gear mounted on thelower side of said lid adapted to impart movement to the agitator, areciprocatrack for actuating-Him 1 anti 1 per mitting' en'g'dgement an I7 nt o t the rackand gear,-'.wit hout;bre;kage of v 5 the; teethwwhilein motion,' inclfidi 2 aIten- Y 5 sioned mounting 'foi the rack. in fa;bw- I eled fashionin'gpf adjacent teeth portions'on both thqrack andbar.1 5 I v I In testimony whereof, 'I-have hereunto af- 10 "fixed mysignature.-

. JOHNZNELSION.-

